Big-spending Malaga squandered a golden opportunity to top the Primera Liga for the first time on Sunday night when they were held to a 0-0 draw at Real Zaragoza.
Malaga saw a string of chances come and go with their best opening falling to Ruud van Nistlerooy on eight minutes.
After being put through by Joaquin Sanchez the Dutch veteran’s shot was blocked by Zaragoza goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez.
The goalkeeper came to Zaragoza’s rescue again in the last minute with a superb reflex save on substitute Seba Fernandez.
The draw left the Costa del Sol club in sixth place, level with Valencia and Real Madrid on 10 points.
Messi closing in on Kubala record
Lionel Messi is determined to keep breaking goal-scoring records at Barcelona after his 12th career hat-trick for the European and Spanish champions took him to 192 at the club.
The 24-year-old Argentine hit his latest hat-trick in the 5-0 demolition of Atletico Madrid and is now just two behind Hungary’s Laszlo Kubala who scored 194 in his career at the Camp Nou in the 1950s.
Once he gets past that, the all-time club record of 235, set by Cesar Rodriguez between 1939 and 1955, will be easily within his sights.
“I’m pretty calm about it. I just take it a game at a time, but obviously I’m very excited about becoming top scorer,” Messi told fcbarcelona.com.
Hamburg end interest in Stevens
Hamburg have reportedly withdrawn their interest in reappointing former coach Huub Stevens.
HSV sporting director Frank Arnesen held talks with Stevens over the weekend but returned dissatisfied after the Dutchman indicated he also wanted to meet with Schalke.
Both Hamburg and Schalke are searching for a new coach after the former sacked Michael Oenning last week while Ralf Rangnick resigned from the latter due to exhaustion.
Schalke now appear to be favourites to snare 57-year-old Stevens, who enjoyed a successful 16-month spell at Hamburg between 2007 and 2008.
Bayern too strong says Voeller
Bayer Leverkusen director of sport Rudi Voeller admits Bayern Munich are “in a class of their own” in the Bundesliga after becoming the latest side to be beaten by Jupp Heynckes’ team.
A 3-0 win at the Allianz Arena was Bayern’s sixth win in a row in the league, and Voeller said there is simply no stopping the Bavarians.
“You could see clearly that we played an opponent we simply had no chance against,” he told Sky television.
“Bayern are simply in a class of their own. We knew before the season that it was going to be tough measuring up to them.”
Enrique pleased after Parma win
Roma coach Luis Enrique sounded satisfied with his team’s performance in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Parma. For the Spanish coach this was his first win in Italian football.
“I am satisfied. The first win came against a difficult side and despite the dangers of the final minutes. I am happy for the players, the fans, the football and the result,” he said.
“My football is about playing well and scoring goals. Those are my objectives. Without doubt we could have handled the final stages better, as the team wanted so much to win that it became terrified of dropping the lead.
“We are passing the ball around quicker. I remember in previous matches we also had good possession, but we want to try something different that gives us a better chance of scoring.”
No decision on future, says Foster
West Brom’s on-loan goalkeeper Ben Foster insists no decision will be taken on his long-term future until the end of the campaign.
Foster has temporarily joined the Baggies for the 2011/12 season from Birmingham following their relegation from the Premier League. He will return to St Andrew’s should City be promoted.
When asked about his future, Foster said: “I honestly haven’t got a clue. As far as it stands it was just a season-loan deal and that was that.
“If Birmingham go and get promoted and get back in the Premier League then I will be back there playing football with Birmingham. If it doesn’t happen, then there is a decision to be made on both parties.”
Allegri hopes for long stay
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has made no secret of his ambition to remain in his post for a long spell.
The 44-year-old is in his second season at the San Siro and has already enjoyed a lot of success after helping the team win the league championship in his first year in charge.
“I hope so, because Milan is a great club,” he said when asked whether he intends to stay at Milan.
“I’d like to stay a long time, but it always depends on the results. Last year we started well with the scudetto and now we have also won the Super Cup, and we hope for a repeat this year.”